Fuel-feeding mechanism



A B. FA'HNESIOCK. FUEL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 050 28, 19I8.

Patented May 16, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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To all whom it ma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM IB. FAHNESTOCK, OF GREAT NECK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, B Y MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 'I'O ELVIN MECHANICAL STOKER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FUEL-FEEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16,1922.

Application filed December 28, 1918. Serial No. 268,636

concern:

Be it known that ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK, of Great Neck, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fuel-Feeding Mechanism, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My invention relates to appliances of the general class or type set forth in an application for Letters Patent filed by Albert G. Elvin, Adam B. Fahnestock, and Frank H. Clark, of even date herewith, Ser. No. 268,635, .(Case A,) and patented May 23,

1921,- .No. 1,376,521, for feeding fuel in fragmentary condition, or other disintegrated material, in variable quantities, from a supply receptacle to a desired delivery receptacle, and, while more particularly designed for application in connection with mechanical stokers for steam boiler furnaces, of the type in which the fuel is projected into the furnace by vibratory fuel carrying and throwing shovels, is not limited to such specific application, as it may be desirably utilized in apparatus of other descriptions, for the performance of a similar function. The object of my invention is to provide means, of simple and inexpensive construction, whereby disintegrated material, as coal, may be delivered from a supply receptacle in which it is stored, to a conveyor or analogous appliance for transferring or conveying it to a location at which it is discharged, for utilization, from the conveying means; the delivery from the supply receptacle being effected either uniformly, or in greater or less uantities, as may be desired, and being w lio1ly independent of the speed of traverse of the conveying means.

The improvementclaimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawin s: Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a uel feeding mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a} transverse section,on the line a a of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan or view, illustrating a structural modificatlon, and Fig. 4, a transverse section, on the line b b of Fig. 3.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which isherein exemplified, I provide a feeding agitator which is located be low the floor a, of a supply receptacle for disintegrated material, as the coal space of a locomotive tender, between said floor and a conveying mechanism for transferring such material to a desired location of delivery, which mechanism is herein indicated as a screw conveyor, 2, adapted to be rotated in an open topped conveyor casing, 2, extending longitudinally below the floor of the supply receptacle. The middle portion of said floor is open longitudinally, the open space forming a supply passa ea The agitator, whichis fitte to be reciprocated transversely to the axial line of the conveyor, and is indicated, as a whole, by the reference symbol, 37, comprises two longitudinally extending'angle bars, 37",

connected at their ends, by angle irons, 37, to cross bars, 37,and connected, Intermediately. of their ends, by bars, 37 together bars, 37, which passages are divided by the intermediate cross bars, 37", into independent supply passages of substantlally square transverse section. Lugs, 37 secured to one of the angle bars, 37", are coupled, by links, 46, to arms, 44:, on a rock shaft, 4.4, which is j ournalled in bearings at one side of the agitator, and is adapted to be v1 brated, to impart transverse reciprocating movement to the agitator, at greater or less degrees of traverse, and independently of the movement of the conveyor, or to be allowed to remain stationary, as from time to time desired by suitable operating mechanism. Such operating mechanism does not, in and of itself, form-part of my inventlon, and is not, therefore, herein shown or described, but may beunderstood by reference to the before referred to Patent 1,376,521,in which a form thereof which is desirably applicable is fully described and. shown.

A. stationary delivery or drop plate, 40', having a central delivery passage, 40*, extending throughout its length, is supported below the agitator, in position to receive material which drops, by gravity, from the supply receptacle, through the supply passages of the agitator.

In the operation of the appliance, rockposite sides of the top plate, 37, through'the supply passages of the agitator, to the drop plate, 40,- from which it is discharged, by the alternately opposite movements of the angle bars, 37", at the sides of the agitator, through the delivery passage, 40, to the conveyor casing, for transfer to the desired location of delivery.

,material adjacent to its middle, instead of .at its sides as in the prior instance.

Correspondingly, the stationary drop plate, 40, is not provided with a central delivery passage, and causes the delivery of material to be effected at its sides, instead of, at its middle portion. Inwardly and downwardly .inclined deflectingplates, 34, are secured to the bottom of the floor, a, and extend longitudinally throughout the length of the agitator, the lower edges of said plates being located adjacent to the top of the conveyor casing, 2. The agitator is, as in the instance first described, coupled, by links, 46, to arms, 44, on a rock shaft, 44, journalled at one side of the agitator, and adapted to be -vibrated to impart transverse reciprocating movement tothe agitator, of greater or less degree of traverse, and independently of the movement of the conveyor 2, or to be allowed to remain stationary, by suitable operating mechanism of the type before noted.

In the operation of this form of appliance, material from the supply receptacle, falls through the supply passage, a in the floor, upon the drop plate, 40, on opposite sides of the vertical partition bar, 37, of the agitator, and, as the agitator 1s reciprocated, is pushed off the plate, at its opposite sides alternately, by said bar, and diverted, v by the deflecting plates, 34, into the .con-

veyor casing, 2.

The leading and characteristic feature of my invention consists, broadly stated, in a grated feeding agitator, which is adapted to be reciprocated between a supply passage, through which disintegrated material is delivered to it, by gravity, from a su )ply receptacle, and a drop plate, from which the material is delivered, by the movements of the agitator, to a conveying mechanism, the operation of which is controlled independently of that of the agitator.

-I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an apparatus for delivering disintegrated material, the combination with an elongated hopper of substantially rectangular shape, of a discharge opening in the bottom of said hopper, a reciprocating agitator also of rectangular shape, a top plate carried by said agitator provided with a longitudinal opening at all times in communication with and located beneath the discharge opening of said hopper, through which the contents of the hopper are continuously discharged, said agitator also being provided 'witl a'longitudinal member, and a multipl1c1ty of spaced, transversely extending bars, and a stationary drop plate beneath the agitator, the longitudinal member of said agitator being operative to push the material from the drop plate to increase or decrease its continuous discharge therefrom.

2. In an apparatus for delivering disintegrated material thecombination with a hopper, of a dischargeopening in the bottom comprising angular side bars and a. multiplicity of transversely extending bars secured to the side bars, forming a series of compartments, a top plate also carried by said agitator, providing longitudinal openings at all times 1n communication with and located beneath, the discharge opening of said hopper, and a drop plate located beneath the top plate having a central opening, the side bars of said agitator beingoperative to push the material from the drop plate to increase or decrease its continuous discharge therefrom.

ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. CLARK,- E. GOODMAN. 

